Do men perform better than women in trauma?

Carlos García-Fuentes,Alberto Hernández-Tejedor,Emilio Alted-López

doi:10.1186/cc13748

Abstract

In recent decades, numerous studies have compared survival according to gender of patients admitted to general hospitals and particularly to intensive care units. In a previous issue of Critical Care, Schoeneberg and colleagues presented the results of a German observational study on a sample from a 10 year registry in a Level 1 trauma center. The conclusion is that there is a trend towards a higher mortality in women than in men.

Highlights

In recent decades, numerous studies have compared survival according to gender of patients admitted to general hospitals and to intensive care units
We should appreciate that the prevalence of different injury mechanisms can be different in males and females, with a higher frequency of stab and traffic accident injuries in males
The injury pattern is different according to gender since most injuries occur in environments and circumstances that show differences in behavior between men and women, such as leisure, workplace or the use of motor vehicles [2]

Summary

Introduction

Numerous studies have compared survival according to gender of patients admitted to general hospitals and to intensive care units. We should appreciate that the prevalence of different injury mechanisms can be different in males and females, with a higher frequency of stab and traffic accident injuries in males. The injury pattern is different according to gender since most injuries occur in environments and circumstances that show differences in behavior between men and women, such as leisure, workplace or the use of motor vehicles [2].

Results

Conclusion